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Sony is a pioneer in bringing out sleek point-and-shoot cameras, many of which feature sliding lens cover, touch-screen, and other innovative features. This month we are reviewing the 10.2-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX7, featuring BIONZ imaging processor, Carl Zeiss lens, and Exmor R CMOS sensor.

Design and Build Quality
The Cyber-shot DSC-TX7 has used a design identical to the one featured in most ultra compacts from its stable—sleek, all-metal body, sliding lens cover, large LCD that occupies the entire back side, all buttons lined up on the top panel, and touch screen. The camera can fit in an average shirt pocket with ease. The lens does not protrude from the body. The metal lens cover protects the lens from scratches and smears. The all-metal construction gives a secured feel while carrying the camera around. The five controls are easy to operate.

Key Features
The 10.2-megapixel Sony DSC-TX7 uses a 1/2.4-inch Type  Exmor R CMOS sensor for imaging. Sony claims the back-illuminated sensor is twice as sensitive as conventional CMOS sensors and hence produces less noise while shooting in low-light situations. The camera uses an advanced BIONZ image processing engine, which, the company claims, lowers noise level further and aids for accurate autofocus, exposure auto correction, and Auto White Balance. The TX7 uses a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 25 – 100mm equivalent f/3.5 – 4.6 lens, providing 4x optical zoom. It features Optical Steady Shot image stabilization. The lens uses internal elements for zooming and hence does not protrude out of the body. The lens focuses as close as 1cm at the wide-angle end and 50cm at the telephoto end. The camera features Multi-point AF (9 points), Center-weighted AF, Spot AF, Flexible Spot AF modes. The TX7 offers Multi-pattern, Center Weighted, and Spot metering. Exposure compensation is available up to +-2 EV in 1/3-stop increments. Shutter speed ranges from 2 sec to 1/1600 sec. The ISO sensitivity of the camera ranges from ISO125 to ISO3200.

The Sony TX7 offers White Balance option of Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent 1, Fluorescent 2, Fluorescent 3, Tungsten, Flash, One Push, and One Push Set. Shooting modes available are Intelligent Auto, Program Auto, iSweep Panorama, AVCHD, Anti Motion Blur, Hand-held Twilight, Backlight Correction HDR, and Scene Selection. The Scene Selection mode offers the options of High Sensitivity , Soft Snap, Landscape, Twilight Portrait, Twilight, Gourmet, Pet, Beach, Snow, Fireworks, Underwater, and Hi-Speed Shutter. The camera features Face Detection and Smile Shutter functions. You have the option to control the level of smile detection. The built-in flash has a range of approximately 0.08m to 3.8m at the wide-angle end and approximately 0.5m to 3.1m at the telephoto end when the ISO sensitivity is set to Auto. The flash modes are Auto, On, Slow Synchro, and Off.

The Sony TX7 uses a 3.5-inch, 921,000-dot, Xtra Fine TruBlack, Touch Screen LCD. Still images are recorded in JPEG format while movies can be recorded in AVCHD or MPEG4 format. Still images can be recorded with maximum size of 3648x2736 pixels. Movie resolution options are 1080i Fine, Standard, 1080p Standard, 720p Standard, and VGA. Individual movie clips can have maximum duration of 29 minutes. The TX7 has approximately 45MB internal memory, and accepts a Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo or SD/SDHC card for external storage. The Sony TX7 is powered by a rechargeable Li-ion battery (supplied).